Foldable auto inflate lifebuoy

ABSTRACT

An auto inflate lifebuoy includes a lifebuoy and an air inflation structure joined to the lifebuoy. In the air inflation structure is disposed a base body, thereto is connected a high pressure gas cylinder. A flexible air nozzle is disposed at the outlet of the high pressure gas cylinder. Inside the base body is disposed a top shaft, which pierces through a spring and then has its one end sticking out of the base body and connecting to a press button. The uninflated lifebuoy can be folded and stored away in proper places on board a transportation vehicle such as an aircraft or a ship. It does not take up too much space in normal times and can be quickly accessed in case of emergency. With a press on the press button, the top shaft is pushed to press the flexible air nozzle into the high pressure gas cylinder. The air inside the high pressure gas cylinder is instantly released by the flexible air nozzle and inflates the lifebuoy for use on a person to facilitate emergency escape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foldable auto inflate lifebuoy, particularly to an auto inflate lifebuoy which does not take up too much space when not in use and which is quickly accessible and speedily inflates for use on a person to facilitate emergency escape in case of emergency.

2. Description of Related Art

Transportation vehicles such as aircrafts or ships are usually equipped with lifebuoys to facilitate emergency escape. Lifebuoys are indeed important means of escape, particularly on passenger liners, ferries, etc. However, existing lifebuoys are usually fully inflated before being stored in proper places. These fully inflated lifebuoys are bigger, and are therefore stored away from activity space. In case of emergency, a person needs to move first to where lifebuoys are stored, reach for one, and put it around the body. This may not only delay escape, but may also cause unnecessary casualties as a result of panic and fluster. In recent ferry disasters, a lot of fatalities are caused because panic-stricken passengers are often unable to get hold of a lifebuoy at the moment of truth due to fear and confusion. In view of this, after laborious research and experiments, the applicant has devised an improved auto inflate lifebuoy which is quickly accessed for use to facilitate emergency escape in case of emergency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a foldable auto inflate lifebuoy which can be folded when not in use and does not take up too much space in normal times, and which is quickly accessible and speedily inflates for use on a person to facilitate emergency escape in case of emergency.

The foregoing foldable auto inflate lifebuoy includes a lifebuoy and an air inflation structure joined to the lifebuoy. In the air inflation structure is disposed a base body, thereto is connected a high pressure gas cylinder. A flexible air nozzle is disposed at the outlet of the high pressure gas cylinder. Inside the base body is disposed a top shaft, which pierces through a spring and then has its one end sticking out of the base body and connecting to a press button. The uninflated lifebuoy can be folded and stored away in proper places on board a transportation vehicle such as an aircraft or a ship. It does not take up too much space in normal times and can be quickly accessed in case of emergency. With a press on the press button, the top shaft is pushed to press the flexible air nozzle into the high pressure gas cylinder. The air inside the high pressure gas cylinder is instantly released by the flexible air nozzle and inflates the lifebuoy for use on a person to facilitate emergency escape.

The foregoing foldable auto inflate lifebuoy, wherein a partition plate is disposed in the base body. On the top shaft is disposed a lug. The top shaft pierces through the partition plate and pierces through a spring between the lug and the partition plate, so that the top shaft is flexible because of the spring.

The foregoing foldable auto inflate lifebuoy, wherein a stopper is disposed in the base body. Corresponding recesses and projections are disposed on the stopper and the press button. When the lifebuoy is not in use, the projections on the stopper and the press button butt against and retain each other, forming a stop to prevent the press button from false action. When the lifebuoy is in use, the press button is turned to an angle so that the projection thereon corresponds to the recess on the stopper, allowing a press on the press button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a pictorial drawing of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional drawing of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional exploded view of a stopper and a press button of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when not in use and stored away.

FIG. 5 is a view of the present invention when inflating.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer both to FIGS. 1 and 2, with reference to FIG. 3, showing respectively a pictorial drawing and a cross-sectional drawing of the present invention, and a three-dimensional exploded view of a stopper and a press button of the present invention. As the figures show, the present invention includes a lifebuoy 1 and an air inflation structure joined to the lifebuoy 1. The lifebuoy 1 is made of rubber and includes a thinner inner layer 11 and a thicker outer layer 12. The inner edge of the outer layer 12 is a rough anti-skid surface 121. On the surface of the outer layer 12 is disposed fluorescence. In the air inflation structure 2 is disposed a base body 21, thereto is connected a high pressure gas cylinder 22 (made of stainless steel). A flexible air nozzle 221, which releases air when pushed inwards, is disposed at the outlet of the high pressure gas cylinder 22. Inside the base body 21 is disposed a top shaft 23, one end thereof faces the flexible air nozzle 221. On the top shaft 23 is disposed a lug 231. The top shaft 23 pierces through a partition plate and pierces through a spring 25 between the lug 231 and the partition plate, so that the top shaft 23 is flexible because of the spring 25. The lug 231 butts against the inner edge of the base body 2. Another end of the top shaft 23 sticks out of the base body 2, pierces through a stopper 26, and connects to a press button 27. A pressure relief valve 28 is disposed between the lifebuoy 1 and the air inflation structure 2.

On the stopper 26 are disposed a recess 261 and a projection 262. On the press button 27 are disposed a recess 271 and a projection 272 corresponding to those on the stopper 26. When the lifebuoy 1 is not in use, the projections 262 and 272 on the stopper 26 and the press button 27 butt against and retain each other, forming a stop to prevent the press button 27 from false action. When the lifebuoy 1 is in use, the press button 27 is turned to an angle so that the projection 272 thereon corresponds to the recess 261 on the stopper 26, allowing a press on the press button 27. The top shaft 23 is driven by the press to push the flexible air nozzle 221 of the high pressure gas cylinder 22 inwards.

The combination of the above-mentioned elements forms a foldable auto inflate lifebuoy A. The uninflated lifebuoy 1 can be folded and stored in proper places on board a transportation vehicle such as an aircraft or a ship. It does not take up too much space in normal times and can be quickly accessed in case of emergency. With a turn of and a press on the press button 27, the top shaft 23 is pushed to press the flexible air nozzle 221 into the high pressure gas cylinder 22. The air inside the high pressure gas cylinder 22 is instantly released by the flexible air nozzle 221 and inflates the lifebuoy 1 for use on a person to facilitate emergency escape.

Please refer to FIG. 4, showing a view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when not in use and stored away. Please also refer to FIG. 3. As the figures show, when the present invention is not in use, the uninflated lifebuoy 1 is folded and stored in proper places on board a transportation vehicle such as an aircraft or a ship, and does not take up too much space in normal times. As the present preferred embodiment shows, after being folded, the foldable auto inflate lifebuoy A can be stored in a case body 3 or any proper containing device. The case body 3 is hung and stored at the back of a seat 4 (for example a seat 4 on a ferry, or at other places which are conspicuous and easily accessible), and does not take up too much space. The projections 262 and 272 on the stopper 26 and the press button 27 butt against and retain each other, forming a stop to prevent the press button 27 from being pressed accidentally in a collision or play and thereby to prevent the press button 27 from false action. In case of emergency, the foldable auto inflate lifebuoy A is quickly accessible. After the lifebuoy A is obtained from the case body 3, the press button 27 is turned and pressed, causing the lifebuoy A to auto inflate.

Please refer to FIG. 5, showing a view of the present invention when inflating. As the figure shows, when the present invention is in use, a user reaches for the foldable auto inflate lifebuoy A, puts it around the body, and then turns the press button 27 to an angle so that the projection 272 on the press button 27 corresponds to the recess 261 of the stopper 26. A moving space for the press button 27 is thus formed, allowing a press on the press button 27. When the press button 27 is pressed, the top shaft 23 moves in the direction of the high pressure gas cylinder 22, and pushes the flexible air nozzle 221 of the high pressure gas cylinder 22 into the high pressure gas cylinder 22, releasing the high pressure air inside the high pressure gas cylinder 22 and fully inflating the lifebuoy 1 to facilitate emergency escape. (Because the lifebuoy 1 includes a thinner inner layer 11 and a thicker outer layer 12 and because the inner edge of the outer layer 12 is a rough anti-skid surface 121, the lifebuoy 1 will inflate in the direction of the user's body and will surround the user's body tightly.) In addition, there is often power failure when a disaster strikes, and complete darkness alarms disaster victims even further. In a situation like this, opportunities to escape are easily missed. The present invention is equipped with fluorescence and can be seen clearly without light. Therefore, the present invention can save lives in time. It also allows rescue units to see disaster victims clearly and carry out rescue operations. Further, the present invention expands inwards when inflating and the inner edge of the outer layer 12 is an anti-skid surface 121, so it can adhere to a user tightly and would not easily come off even under a strong water pressure.

After use, the foldable auto inflate lifebuoy A of the present invention may release its high pressure air by means of the pressure relief valve 28, and the high pressure gas cylinder 22 may be refilled with high pressure air for use next time.

The fore-going preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and changes included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

In view of the foregoing considerations, the present invention relates to a foldable auto inflate lifebuoy including a lifebuoy with an air inflation structure therein are disposed a high pressure gas cylinder and a press button. The lifebuoy of the present invention can be folded when not in use and does not take up too much space. It is quickly accessible in case of emergency and speedily inflates for use on a person to facilitate emergency escape in case of emergency. It can therefore be claimed that the present invention is a practical and novel invention 

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable auto inflate lifebuoy, comprising: a lifebuoy joined to an air inflation structure, including a thinner inner layer and a thicker outer layer; an air inflation structure therein is disposed a base body, wherein a high pressure gas cylinder is connected to the base body, a flexible air nozzle is disposed at the outlet of the high pressure gas cylinder, inside the base body is disposed a top shaft, the top shaft pierces through a spring, and an end of the top shaft extends out of the base body and connects to a press button; wherein the uninflated lifebuoy can be folded and stored away in proper places on board a transportation vehicle such as an aircraft or a ship, does not take up too much space in normal times, and can be quickly accessed in case of emergency, and wherein with a press on the press button the top shaft is pushed to press the flexible air nozzle into the high pressure gas cylinder, and the air inside the high pressure gas cylinder is instantly released by the flexible air nozzle and inflates the lifebuoy for use on a person to facilitate emergency escape.
 2. The foldable auto inflate lifebuoy of claim 1, wherein a lug is disposed on the top shaft and a partition plate is disposed in the base body, and the top shaft pierces through the partition plate and pierces through a spring between the lug and the partition plate.
 3. The foldable auto inflate lifebuoy of claim 1, wherein the top shaft pierces through a stopper and connects to a press button, and corresponding recesses and projections are disposed on the stopper and the press button, and wherein when the lifebuoy is not in use the projections on the stopper and the press button butt against and retain each other, forming a stop to prevent the press button from false action, and when the lifebuoy is in use the press button is turned to an angle so that the projection thereon corresponds to the recess on the stopper, allowing a press on the press button.
 4. The foldable auto inflate lifebuoy of claim 1, wherein a pressure relief valve is disposed between the lifebuoy and the air inflation structure to release the high pressure air in the foldable auto inflate lifebuoy after use. 